A mother of two from Liverpool has described how an itchy ear led to a lump and, days later, paralysis down one side of her face. Paige Weston, 29, was initially told she had an ear infection before doctors diagnosed Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a condition caused by the Varicella-zoster virus.
The virus can remain dormant for years before reactivating, attacking facial nerves and causing paralysis, painful rashes around the ear, and even hearing loss. Paige recalled noticing a lump in early April and thinking little of it. Within days, her ear became intensely itchy, sore, swollen, and painful, with no relief from medication.
After being prescribed antibiotics for a suspected ear infection, her condition worsened, with severe headaches lasting days. When facial paralysis set in, she was rushed to A&E, where doctors finally identified the real cause: shingles in her ear, linked to the paralysis.
Paige expressed frustration over the multiple misdiagnoses. After seeing a specialist, she was diagnosed with Grade 3 Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Early treatment is crucial, but Paige did not receive antivirals and steroids until nearly three weeks after symptoms began.
“I felt overwhelmed, confused, and honestly quite scared. The hardest part was how it affected my face. I became really self-conscious, covering my mouth when I smiled or laughed,” she said. Doctors warned that recovery could take up to a year, if it happens at all. However, Paige is already noticing small improvements.
“The shingles have mostly healed, but I still have sharp pain, itching, and burning in my ear. The facial weakness has been the biggest adjustment. I’m seeing small improvements, which gives me hope. I’m staying positive and taking each day as it comes,” she added.
Paige now urges others not to ignore early symptoms. “Getting treatment within the first 72 hours can make a huge difference. And if it affects your face, know you’re not alone. Finding a support group online and hearing recovery stories helped me a lot,” she concluded.
